ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS for equine and Small Farm Operations Erosion & Sedimentation Nutrient Management

PA produces 26,000,000 tons of manure a year (excluding equine) A dairy cow produces 2,500 gallons of milk and 6,000 gallons of manure a year A pig gains 250 lbs in 5 months and produces 2,000 lbs of manure A horse produces 16,000 lbs of manure a year. Only 25% of PA horse farms use their manure What is your definition of manure? (This question is designed to help people think about what manure is actually composed of.) Manure is not all bad!

Manure is a Resource!!!!!!!!!!!! What is Manure? Great Stuff!!!! Organic matter and soil microbes Water and nutrient holding capacity Micro nutrients (Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfur, Zinc, and more) Macro nutrients (N – P – K) Value based on N-P-K value alone is approximately: $287/cow/year $785/1000 broilers/year $34/hog/year To the general public, manure is often depicted as a smelly waste product that animal owners need to remove from their property. But in reality, manure is a valuable resource. Manure consists of fiber, nutrients, vitamins, and minerals from the pasture grasses, hay, and feed that was not utilized by the animal. In addition to the macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), manure may contain valuable trace minerals and elements such as iron and zinc. Manure is a great source of organic matter, which improves soil quality and enhances soil water holding ability. Unlike commercial fertilizers, manure provides a slow release of nutrients to the plant, making the nutrients continuously available to meet the plant’s needs. With the increasing cost of commercial fertilizers, composted manure becomes a valuable resource to cropland, pastures and gardens.

WHY? What’s at stake? Soil Erosion Nutrients If manure is such ‘good stuff’, then what is the issue? When manure is stored and handled improperly, and continuously over applied, the environment suffers. Overgrazed pastures and cropland lacking vegetated cover contribute to soil erosion resulting in water quality degradation.

What is Erosion & Sedimentation? RAIN – a bomb raid for bare soil! DETACHMENT Impacts of raindrops on bare soil breaks apart soil aggregates Erosion is the physical wearing away of the soil surface. Rain on bare soil is a major contributor to soil loss. When rain drops strike the soil, soil aggregates break apart resulting in soil erosion.

Picture: Example of sediment transport caused by rain having a direct connect with bare soil.

Picture: Example of the aftermath of continual erosion – resulting in formation of gullies. What threat can gullies present? Gullies can provide a direct access route for pollutants and sediments to reach streams; deep gullies in pastures are a danger to livestock.

Eroded sediments often are deposited in nearby streams, polluting and degrading water quality.

Sediment in Streams Biggest water pollutant in PA by volume What does it do? Reduces flow capacity of ditches, canals, culverts, other water conveyances Increases flooding potential Accelerates stream bank erosion Increases turbidity (think murky, muddy water) Degrades water quality In addition to degrading streams pristine appearance, what’s the concern with excess sediments in water? Sediments in surface water increase water temperature Warm water holds less oxygen for fish and other aquatic life forms Sediments reduce sunlight penetration in water that is necessary for aquatic plant growth Sediments suffocate bottom dwelling aquatic organisms – disrupting the water ecosystems

SEDIMENT NEVER TRAVELS ALONE…. Use this slide to introduce nutrients as pollutants. Ask what else moves with sediments (pollutants such as oil, herbicides, nutrients, etc.) SEDIMENT NEVER TRAVELS ALONE….

Nutrients In the process of producing, storing, transporting and land applying manure, pathogens and nutrients (nitrogen & phosphorus) can be transported to surface and ground waters. All affect water quality

Phosphorus Phosphorus is lost and enters waterways through Phosphorus is often the limiting growth element for aquatic plants Aquatic plants and algae bloom under high phosphorus conditions As aquatic vegetation dies, oxygen is depleted Use of water for drinking, fishing, and recreation is limited Phosphorus is lost and enters waterways through EROSION Eutrophication is caused by an increase in nutrients in bodies of water causing a drastic surge in aquatic plant growth (especially algae). As algae populations increase and subsequently die and decay, oxygen levels are depleted causing dead zones. Very small amounts of P are needed to cause eutrophication.

Phosphorus Pollution How does phosphorus become a pollutant? Does location of your farm’s manure pile and/or where you spread manure lead to phosphorus pollution? Phosphorus contamination occurs through soil loss/ erosion. When determining the potential for phosphorus pollution, it is important to identify two things: transport (click to show stream) and source (click to show watershed boundary). Areas where source and transport meet are known as Critical Source Areas. They are areas where high soil P levels (source) coincide with areas of high erosion, runoff, and direct flow (transport). Approximately 90% of the P comes from 10% of the area.

Chesapeake Bay Watershed One of the best known situations resulting from excess nutrient and soil loss is the water quality impairment occurring in the Chesapeake Bay. Degradation of water quality within the Bay has led to increased state and federal nutrient management regulations.

You might believe that your farm is not large enough to have a negative impact, but it only requires a small amount of P to degrade water quality. Understanding basic BMPs that can be implemented on your farm will help to create a positive impact for the Bay and other local watersheds.

What is being done? Agencies are implementing stronger regulations and accountability programs to control agricultural runoff. In the past, the emphasis was on larger operations, new emphasis will be on smaller operations, especially equine (large number of high density horse operations in all states)

WHO is Regulated? All Animal Operations (AOs) AOs (40,000+) All operations generating/utilizing manure Regulated by PA DEP (PA Clean Streams Law) AOs (40,000+) Concentrated Animal Operations (CAOs) Animal Density greater than 2 AEUs/ Acre 1 AEU = 1000 lbs 8 or more AEU’s Regulated by PA State Conservation Commission (Act 38) CAOs (1,050+) CAFOs (340+) What is your farm ... CAFO, CAO, or AO? An Animal Unit (AU) is 1000 pounds of live animal weight. An Animal Equivalent Unit (AEU) is 1000 pounds of live animal weight adjusted for the number of days that the animals are on the farm. Animal Equivalent Units per Acre takes into account the number of animals on the farm, animal weight, number of days the animals are on the farm, and the number of acres suitable for manure application. Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) Based on animal numbers and/or animal density Farms > 1,000 AEUs, CAOs > 300 AEUs Regulated by PA DEP (for US EPA)

Necessary Calculations Animal Equivalent Units (AEU) = Average # of Animals x Average Animal Weight (lbs) ÷ 1000* x Number of Days on Operation ÷ 365 Animal Density = AEU ÷ Number of Acres Suitable for Manure Concentrated Animal Operation (CAO) : More than 2 AEU/ Acre AND More than 8 AEUs * 1 AU = 1000 lbs

Animal Inventory: 8 Draft Horses 4 Ponies 6 Mules 15 Finishing Hogs (grow – finish) on farm for 100 days Land Inventory: Farmstead: 2 Acres Woodland: 5 Acres Pasture: 10 Acres Rented Cropland: 12 Acres Animal Type No. Animals X Animal Weight (lbs) ÷ 1000 Production Days 365 AEUs Total AEU = Acres available for manure Animal Density: AEU/ Acre = Fill in the chart using the example provided and use the equation to decide if this sample farm is a CAO or an AO. Then use the process to determine if your own farm would classify as either a CAO or an AO.

Use these tables for animal weights for the sample problem.

Acres Available for Manure AEUs/Acre (Animal Density) Type No. Animals X Weight (lbs) ÷ 1000 Production Days 365 AEU Draft 8 1,800 1,000 14.4 Ponies 4 600 2.4 Mules 6 1,100 6.6 Hogs 15 155 100 .6 Total AEUs = 24 Acres Available for Manure ÷ 22 AEUs/Acre (Animal Density) = 1.1 Is the farm considered a Concentrated Animal Operation (CAO) or an Animal Operation (AO)? AO Review: Are the following operations CAOs or AOs? 10 (1000 lb) horses maintained on 10 acres of pasture – year round? AO 10 (1000 lb) beef cows maintained on 2 acres of pasture – year round? CAO 4 (1000 lb) horses maintained on a 1 acre drylot – year round? AO (below 8 AEU threshold)

What are the regulations? AO - produce manure Manure Management Plan State AO - with an animal concentration area Manure Management Plan and Conservation/Erosion and Sediment Control Plan Concentrated Animal Operation (CAO) - over 8 AEUs and 2000 lbs animal per acre Nutrient Management Plan Conservation Plan (Erosion) Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) - animals confined to houses and/or feedlots and exceeds PA DEP animal group thresholds Nutrient Management Plan Federal Conservation Plan (Erosion) CAFO permit

Certified nutrient management planner   DEP Manure Management Plan Act 38 Nutrient Management Plan Written By Farmer Certified nutrient management planner Cost May be of no cost to farmer $ varies by operation Who Needs One Farms with livestock and/or that apply manure Concentrated Animal Operations; Volunteer Farms Regulates Animal Concentration Areas Manure Storage Pasture Mechanical Manure Application Agency Regulated by DEP/ Conservation Districts Regulated by SCC/ Conservation Districts Approval None required Approved by Conservation District Board Liability Protection None claimed Limited liability for civil complaints

DEP Manure Management Regulations All farms generating/using manure MUST have a Manure Management Plan Must use the workbook provided (http://panutrientmgmt.cas.psu.edu/manure_management_program.htm) Must be a written plan and include farm maps Can be written by farmer or other non-certified individual No submission and no approval required Kept on site May be required to produce the plan upon request Must keep records All farms in PA must have either an approved Act 38 nutrient management plan or a manure management plan. Under Act 38, CAOs are required to have a nutrient management plan prepared by a certified planner for their farm operation. The certified plan will take the place of a manure management plan.

Pasture Management Pastures need to be properly managed by either: Maintaining dense vegetation with at least 3” growth during growing season (or) Implementing a grazing plan meeting the NRCS standard Overgrazed pastures not meeting the above requirements Must be considered a barnyard or Animal Concentration Area (ACA) Stream bank fencing restricting access to a stream is not required for a true pasture In order to prevent erosion, you need to protect and cover you soil. This is achieved in pastures by maintaining YEAR ROUND vegetative cover. Managing and making sure your pastures maintain at least a 75-80% ground cover, and creating the a good canopy is critical to preventing soil loss.

Pasture Management Unacceptable Acceptable The picture on the left is a pasture that lacks adequate canopy cover. Pastures that continue to lack plant cover will suffer from the effects of soil erosion. The picture on the right is a pasture that is being managed to maintain proper plant height and density. Acceptable

Animal Concentration Area Management (ACA) It is much better to construct small ACAs to protect pastures from overgrazing than to allow all of the pastures to deteriorate and become ACAs. Animal Concentration Area Management (ACA) Barnyards Exercise Lots Bare Animal Concentration Areas

ACA Management Divert upslope water Direct polluted runoff into storage or vegetative treatment strip or system Remove manure No animal access to streams from an ACA except using properly constructed crossings Keep water/feed areas away from streams ACAs must be managed to keep clean water clean. Divert clean water away from the ACA. Direct contaminated water to vegetated buffers or treatment system.

Manure Storage Requirements As of 2000, all newly built liquid and semi-solid manure storages must be: Designed by a Pa registered Professional Engineer Larger manure storage facilities require a DEP permit Must be maintained

In-Field Manure Stacking Unimproved in-field stacking areas: 100’ from streams, water wells and sinkholes Divert upslope water Place the stack on less than 8% slopes Not same place as last year Manure must be dry to allow it to be stacked Cover the stack if it will be there more than 120 days Stacking on improved areas (such as in the farmstead) does not need to follow these same restrictions, just no direct runoff to waters

Mechanical Manure Application Setbacks 100’ manure application setbacks for Streams, lakes, ponds, and existing open sinkholes Private or public drinking water source 100’ may be reduced for streams, lakes, ponds 35’ with a permanent vegetative buffer 50’ with current soil tests (3 years) less than 200 ppm P and use no-till and cover crops Pastures meeting the pasture management requirements 35’ mechanical manure application setback

Winter Spreading Restrictions Defines “Winter” Between the dates of December 15 to February 28 (or) The ground is frozen 4 inches or more (or) The ground is snow covered Provides maximum application rate for the winter months 5,000 gallons per acre of liquid manure 20 tons per acre dry non-poultry manure 3 tons per acre dry poultry manure Requires 25% plant or residue cover at application time No winter application on slopes steeper than 15%

Manure Application Rates Three options for developing manure rates: 1) Use manure application charts in workbook Easiest but very general – not farm specific Based on crop groups and yield, type of manure, and application method Can use N based charts if current soil test is < 200 ppm P Must use P based charts if current soil test is >200 ppm P or no soil test is available Based on the phosphorus that the plants are able to remove Approximately 1/3 N rate These charts are found in the DEP Manure Manual Workbook.

Manure Application Rates Charts are found in the back of DEP Manure Management Workbook.

Manure Application Rates Three options for developing manure rates: 2) Use Nutrient Balance Sheet Worksheet Harder but site specific Use N based option if current soil test is < 200 ppm P Use P based option if current soil test is >200 ppm P or no soil test is available Approximately 1/3 N rate http://panutrientmgmt.cas.psu.edu/main_planning_tools.htm

Manure Application Rates Three options for developing manure rates: 3.) Use the PA Phosphorus-Index Most complex Most flexible Will need to use an authorized planner N or P based on the results of the P Index http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/freepubs/pdfs/uc180.pdf

Help? Agencies that can help you…….. Conservation District Penn State Extension Natural Resource Conservation Service Department of Environmental Protection

Regulations Summary… All animal farms Manure Management Plan (pre-approved standardized format) Written by farmer Manure application, ACAs, pastures and barnyards No submission, review or approval Higher density animal farms (CAOs) Nutrient Management Plan, more detailed Written by certified planner Submitted, reviewed and approved by Conservation District Larger animal farms (CAFOs) Nutrient Management Plan – reviewed and approved DEP CAFO Permit

Donna L. Foulk dlf5@psu.edu Extension Educator – Equine Natural Resources Sarah M. Rihl smr5162@psu.edu Equine Program Assistant Penn State Cooperative Extension, Northampton County, 610-746-1970 The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. It is the policy of the University to maintain an academic and work environment free of discrimination, including harassment. The Pennsylvania State University prohibits discrimination and harassment against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status. Discrimination or harassment against faculty, staff, or students will not be tolerated at The Pennsylvania State University. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to the Affirmative Action Director, The Pennsylvania State University, 328 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802-5901; Tel 814-865-4700/V, 814-863-1150/TTY This publication is available in alternative media on request.  v.04.2012